| I got my first Missouri Fox Trotter in 1994 when | | | | The front foot hits slightly before the diagonal |
| they were not very common in the South. When | | | | rear hoof. The split second difference makes the |
| he was ready for training, I knew I needed some | | | | gait have four beats with a slight pause 1,2--3,4 |
| help because I had never worked with a gaited | | | | instead of two beats like a regular trot has. The |
| horse before. At the time, I was taking lessons | | | | fox trot provides a smoother ride than a regular |
| with a trainer/instructor who uses a lot of | | | | trot which has a time with all four feet off the |
| dressage basics. I asked Sandi Forester if she | | | | ground. The fox trot keeps two and then three |
| would help me with my gelding. "A Missouri Fox | | | | feet on the ground throughout which makes it a |
| WHAT?" was her response. Therein began her | | | | good gait for rough terrain. |
| education about fox trotters and we worked | | | | The appearance of the fox trot is that the horse |
| through the training together. The dressage basics | | | | is walking with its front legs and trotting in the |
| were wonderful in creating a soft, supple, yet | | | | rear. The sound of the hoofbeats is often |
| easy-riding horse. As we progressed with our | | | | described with the chant: "Chunka meat and two |
| skills, we began doing breed demonstrations to | | | | potatoes, Chunka meat and two potatoes". The |
| get the well-kept secret of this breed out to the | | | | gait is not a high stepping one, but it is extremely |
| public. | | | | surefooted. The head and tail of the horse are |
| Missouri Fox Trotters are a gaited breed that is | | | | slightly elevated, giving the animal a graceful |
| known for the gait from which its name comes, | | | | carriage, and the rhythmic beat of the hooves |
| the fox trot. The breed developed in the Ozark | | | | along with the nodding action of the head and tail, |
| regions of Missouri and Arkansas as settlers | | | | give the horse an appearance of relaxation and |
| migrating to the area brought in their best saddle | | | | poise. Some horses naturally get so caught up in |
| stock. The horses were used for many purposes, | | | | the rhythm of the gait that their ears move in |
| often times going from pulling a plow during the | | | | time with it and some even let their lips or teeth |
| day to carrying a young gent calling in the evening. | | | | pop with the beat. |
| They are surefooted and comfortable to ride and | | | | In addition to the fox trot, fox trotters do a |
| can keep up a good speed for long periods of | | | | smooth ground-covering flat foot walk and a nice |
| time without getting tired. Cowboys moving herds | | | | canter. Some have a multitude of other gaits built |
| from TX north were often found on horses doing | | | | in that they might also offer, such as running |
| this easy gait because they were a comfortable | | | | walk, rack, or stepping pace--all comfortable gaits. |
| ride as well as athletic enough to work with the | | | | Approximately 90% of the registered fox |
| cattle. | | | | trotters are owned by people who use them for |
| The Missouri Fox Trotter Horse Breed Association | | | | pleasure trail riding, competitive or endurance |
| began in 1948 and was open to register any | | | | riding, or as working horses on ranches, packing |
| horse who could demonstrate the fox trot gait. In | | | | hunters, or in the forestry service. The fox |
| 1983, the registry closed, and all horses accepted | | | | trotter also has a place in the show ring where it |
| into the registry from that point on had to have | | | | is recognized for its beauty and style. It is not |
| both parents permanently registered in the | | | | unusual to see the horses doing double duty and |
| Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association. | | | | being enjoyed in more than one discipline. |
| A fox trot is the only smooth gait that has a | | | | These horses used to be a well kept secret |
| footfall pattern that involves diagonal pairs. All | | | | outside of the Ozark Mountains, but have really |
| other smooth gaits that horses do, such as | | | | become well known across the US in the last |
| flatfoot walk, running walk, stepping pace, and so | | | | 10-15 years. There are even quite a few Missouri |
| on, are lateral gaits with the legs on the same | | | | Fox Trotters in Germany these days. With the |
| side of the body working pretty much in unison. | | | | average age of the general population getting |
| The fox trot is basically a diagonal gait, but it | | | | older, it's not surprising that this comfortable riding, |
| differs from a regular trot because the diagonal | | | | good-natured breed has really caught on. |
| pairs of legs do not hit at exactly the same time. | | | | |